Rule 2 SECTION 9 FAIR CATCH
ART. 1 . . . A fair catch is a catch by a receiver of a free kick in or beyond the neutral zone to the receiver's goal line, or of a scrimmage kick beyond the neutral zone to the receiver's goal line, after a valid signal, under conditions in which the receiver forfeits his right to advance the ball in return for protection from being blocked or tackled by an opponent.

ART. 2 . . . An awarded fair catch occurs when the offended team chooses to take the ball at the spot of the kick-catching interference rather than accepting the distance penalty from the previous spot and replaying the down.

ART. 3 . . . A valid fair-catch signal is the extending and lateral waving of one arm, at full arm's length above the head, by any member of the receiving team.
ART. 4 . . . An invalid fair-catch signal is any signal by a receiver before the kick is caught or recovered:

a. That does not meet the requirements of a valid signal.
b. After the kick has touched a receiver.
c. After the kick has touched the ground.

ART. 5 . . . An illegal fair-catch signal is any signal by a runner:

a. After the kick has been caught.
b. After the kick has been recovered.


Rule 6 SECTION 5 FAIR CATCH
ART. 1 . . . Any receiver may signal for a fair catch while any legal kick is in flight. Any receiver who has given a valid or invalid fair-catch signal is prohibited from blocking until the kick has ended.
ART. 2 . . . It is a fair catch and the ball is dead if any receiver gives a valid fair-catch signal, as in Article 1, and he catches a free kick in or beyond the neutral zone to R's goal line, or a scrimmage kick beyond the neutral zone to R's goal line.

ART. 3 . . . Only the receiver who gives a valid signal is afforded protection. If, after a receiver signals, the catch is made by a teammate, it is not a fair catch but the ball becomes dead.
ART. 4 . . . The captain may choose to free kick or snap anywhere between the inbounds lines on the yard line through the spot of the catch when a fair catch is made or through the spot of interference, when a fair catch is awarded. These choices remain if a dead-ball foul occurs prior to the down, or a foul or an inadvertent whistle occurs during the down and the down is replayed.

ART. 5 . . . No receiver may advance the ball after a valid or invalid fair-catch signal has been given by any member of the receiving team.
ART. 6 . . . While any free kick is in flight in or beyond the neutral zone to the receiver's goal line or any scrimmage kick is in flight beyond the neutral zone to the receiver's goal line, K shall not touch the ball or R, unless blocked into the ball or R or to ward off a blocker, nor obstruct R's path to the ball. This prohibition applies even when no fair-catch signal is given, but it does not apply after a free kick has been touched by a receiver, or after a scrimmage kick has been touched by a receiver who was clearly beyond the neutral zone at the time of touching.

EXCEPTION: K may catch, touch, muff or bat a scrimmage kick in flight beyond the neutral zone if no player of R is in position to catch the ball.
ART. 7 . . . A receiver shall not give an invalid fair-catch signal.
ART. 8 . . . The runner shall not give an illegal fair-catch signal.
PENALTY: Blocking after giving a valid or invalid signal (Art. 1) – (S40) – 15 yards; delay of game (Art. 5) – (S21) – 5 yards; kick-catching interference (Art. 6) – (S33) – 15 yards. For interference, R may accept a 15-yard penalty from the previous spot and a replay of the down or choose to accept the penalty of an awarded fair catch at the spot of the foul. Invalid or illegal fair-catch signal (Arts. 7, 8) – (S32) – 5 yards.